Insuring a Classic Car

Classic cars are the pride and joy of their owners, with people doing whatever they can to keep them well protected and in top condition at all times. If, however, something does go wrong with your classic car, it is vital that the insurance you have for the vehicle covers all aspects of its aesthetics, internal mechanics and functionality.

What is a classic car

Classic cars in the UK do not fall under a specific, fixed age group, though a classic car must be older than 15 years to qualify under this title. A car that is just 15 years old may be referred to as a modern classic, in fact.

Though classic cars do not necessarily have to be old, the majority of them are one-offs that have been made in the past which now are not manufactured any longer. It is important to note that different insurers will class what a classic car is differently from other insurers, so check with your insurer when getting your classic car insured that they are prepared to consider it as one.

Insuring your classic car

When it comes to insuring your classic car, there are various things to take into consideration. Whilst it may be more expensive to insure a classic car for some reasons, such as the parts being less readily available, there are also many instances in which it may in fact be cheaper to insure older, more classic models of car.

Here, we run through some factors worth considering when you insure a classic car to ensure you have all the information available to you, allowing you to pursue the best policy for your model of car:

Low policy price

Classic cars are often cheaper to insure for a number of reasons, including:

Insurers tend to assume that the car will be doing less mileage due to its age and its purpose as a show piece rather than a car used to make long trips or have many passengers. Most classic car owners take great care of their vehicles, ensuring that they are well maintained at all times and stored in a safe and secure location.

Uncommon parts

There are, however, considerations to make when it comes to replacing faulty or broken parts which may no longer be available such as windscreens. Though insurance will cover the repair of a classic car’s windscreen, not all manufacturers may still produce the exact replica windscreens needed to replace the broken ones, meaning that customers’ premiums may be pushed up or certainly a higher excess may be charged in the instance of a broken windscreen on their classic car. For more information on repairing and replacing classic car windscreens, it is worth speaking to specialists such as those at The Windscreen Company.

Other parts of the car may also incur expensive excess payments or, indeed, may make the insurance premium more expensive on account of their rarity. For this reason, it is important to shop around expert insurance companies for the best policy when looking to cover a classic car, as some may be more equipped to cover certain classic makes than others.

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from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/insuring-a-classic-car/

Backyard Design To Promote A Healthy Family

Spending time outside to eat, talk and play bonds family members — from small kids to adults — in incredible ways. With that in mind, how can you design your backyard to be an inviting, activity-boosting space where the whole family wants to spend time? Here’s a look at some key tips for turning your backyard into a favorite family destination.

Start With the Big Picture

Before buying new pillows for the lounge furniture or flowers for the beds, consider this: What do you want from your backyard? A space to entertain on weekends, or a space to eat dinner together every warm night? Do you want areas for sports and/or a fire pit? Once you know what you’re looking for, you know where to start. Think about what already works well for your goals, and what doesn’t. This can guide your efforts in design.

Add the Right Elements

Based upon your desires and goals, add elements to the backyard that make it more usable and enjoyable. By creating a fun and functional outdoor space, you can promote health and wellness for everyone. Consider adding the following:

1. Outdoor lighting makes your yard usable at night as well as day. Consider landscaping lights to highlight your foliage, string lights to illuminate eating areas, and solar-powered lights to take advantage of the power of the sun in creating evening ambiance.
2. Give yourself and your loved ones protection from the sun’s blazing heat with quality shade structures. From umbrellas to canopies, shades can make eating areas and seating nooks more comfortable.
3. Outdoor Seating and Play Areas. Fancy furniture might be fun for the adults, but if you have small children, be sure to include them in your design, too. Make sure there are seating and play areas for everyone who will need them. Differentiate a few seating nooks where adults can gather as well as larger, informal spaces where the whole family can spend time. Likewise, consider adding a sandbox or a tree swing for kids.
4. An Outdoor Grill. There’s nothing quite so quintessentially summer as grilling outside or picnicking on a beautiful day. Use this season to make big, healthy dinners of fresh produce like corn on the cob or zucchini grilled with herbs and oil. Getting everyone together is half the fun of spending time outdoors, and eating deliciously healthy food is icing on the cake.
5. A Fireplace. There’s nothing quite like a cozy fire to create backyard warmth and ambiance on a cool night. You could buy a fireplace or, if you’re handy, make one using DIY tutorials online. In either case, a commanding fireplace will turn your yard into a true showpiece for entertaining and relaxing.
6. A Backyard Garden. A backyard garden is more than a way to boost your summer vegetable crop; it’s also a project you and your kids can work on together. Whether you add a raised bed garden or plot out space in the yard itself, help your family connect to nature and understand where food comes from by growing from seeds or starters to a wide variety of plants.
7. Sports Equipment. Children aren’t the only ones who benefit from time to play. Give the whole family an excuse to get active and have fun by including a bocce ball court, some baseball gloves and balls, a soccer ball and other activity-encouraging features that you can enjoy together.

When it comes to smart backyard design, the key is knowing your own family and what works best for your needs. Look at the way you work and play together and turn your yard into a space that cultivates time outside! Then, when you’re hanging out with loved ones in the yard throughout this season, you can build memories and relationships that last a lifetime.

 

About the author:

Brent Derbecker is the National Sales Manager of Superior Skyspan, a shade division of Superior Recreational Products. The company designs umbrellas and shade structures for any unique space to improve your outdoor comfort and protection.

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from Homey Improvements http://homeyimprovements.com/backyard-design-promote-healthy-family/

How long will my appliances last?

We’ve not yet entered a new dawn in terms of how robust technology can be; nothing lasts forever and everything will, at some point, be beyond functionality. So what about all of your appliances at home? Considering the money you spend on each individual appliance in your home, you might be curious to find out how long your appliances will last.

Take a look at our infographic below to see the average lifespan of your household essentials.

 

Dishwasher – 9 years

Microwave – 9 years

Tumble Dryer – 13 years

Refrigerator – 13 years

Extractor Hood – 14 years

Washing Machine – 15 years

Freezer – 16 years

Gas Oven – 18 years

The post How long will my appliances last? appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/how-long-will-my-appliances-last/